Sen. Susan Collins: “I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh”

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is voting yes on confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. On Friday, she gave a long announcement on the Senate floor to declare her vote and explain her rationale.

Earlier Friday, Collins voted “yes” on advancing Kavanaugh to a final vote. But that vote was only to advance to a final vote and was not a definite indicator of which way she would go in the final vote. The Maine Republican is a key vote for confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Senators including Collins have been swamped by reporters and protesters in the runup to the Kavanaugh confirmation votes. At one point this week, Collins was escorted out of a hearing by three police officers. Capitol police also later threatened to clear a public hallway outside her office in the Dirksen Senate Office Building and physically blocked reporters from approaching Collins as she left the office to return to the Capitol for a vote.

A police officer clears the hallway before demonstrators are arrested as they protest against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in front of the office of Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2018.Joshua Roberts / REUTERS